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2025 PTSO Young Artist Competition Participants and Prize Winners!

CONGRATULATIONS! 2025 PTSO Young Artist Competition Participants and Prize Winners!

March 29, 2025 – Port Townsend. Today we had the privilege to hear a dynamic and impressive mix of Jefferson County’s young musical artists in performance at Grace Lutheran Church in Port Townsend. They competed with poise, fantastic preparation and positive sportsmanship. The music was moving and audience members enjoyed every minute of the day’s music. The party atmosphere helped keep nerves calm and laughter was ever present. It was truly a beautiful event both musically and socially.

Our judges, violist Tyrone Beatty, oboist Anne Krabil and cellist Pamela Roberts had a tough time narrowing down the list to choose prize winners. All the musicians were well prepared and each had special elements to their performances. As a result EVERY musician who participated will receive a certificate, financial check and three judging sheets with detailed comments to provide critical feedback and to acknowledge their incredible dedication and hard work!

2025 YAC PARTICIPANTS WERE:

JUNIOR DIVISION: Juniper Fleischer (piano and viola), Charlotte Hines (violin), Annaleigh Harrison (piano), Darius Weinblatt (violin), and William Morgensen (string bass). Awards were as follows:

1st Prize – Juniper Fleischer
2nd Prize – Darius Weinblatt and William Morgensen
3rd Prize – Annaleigh Harrison
Achievement Award – Charlotte Hines

SENIOR DIVISION: Amidah Soong (violin), Marie Morgensen (violin), Kai Anderson (violin), Fiona Skidmore (viola), Leah Ferland (violin), Xavier Cooper (violin), Mikhail Groth (tenor saxophone), Chase Gardner (cello), C.J. Fisher (French horn), Isabella Ferland (string bass), Steven Woolbright (snare drum), Oliver Banks (piano), Hayden Montgomery (percussion). Awards were as follows:

1st Prize – Steven Woolbright
2nd Prize – Hayden Montgomery
3rd Prize – Chase Gardner
Conductor’s Award-Chase Gardner & Steven Woolbright

Achievement Awards – Amidah Soong, Marie Morgensen, Kai Anderson, Fiona Skidmore, Leah Ferland, Xavier Cooper, Mikhail Groth, C.J. Fisher, Isabella Ferland, and Oliver Banks.

Thank you to everyone, who contributed to this successful event, ESPECIALLY PARENTS/GUARDIANS. Thank you to MUSIC TEACHERS, who are doing a great job developing our local talent. Thank you also to Karl Perry (photographer and certificates), Cathi McDade and Nan Tyrrell (hostesses), Lesa Barnes (flowers and award checks), Kristin Smith (planning), Vincent Oneoppo (poster design), and Mike McCleron (planning support). Thank you to Crissy at Grace Lutheran Church for logistics and the church for hosting this important event for our local youth.

A special thanks to our PTSO Conductor Tigran Arakelyan, who inspired this competition and who leads multiple efforts to benefit young musicians.

We hope to see you all again next year. Best wishes and keep playing!

Music can change the world.

Pamela Roberts, Coordinator
PTSO Young Artist Competition
Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra

(Photos by Karl Perry)

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Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra concert – Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 2 pm

Poster by Pamela Roberts.

Mark Hilliard Wilson has an engaging approach to teaching and programing concerts that draws from the deep well of history and a desire to relate contemporary interests to universal themes. He founded the Seattle Guitar Orchestra in 2000 and became the cathedral guitarist at St. James Cathedral in Seattle 2006. He has taught at Whatcom Community College, Bellevue College, the Rosewood Guitar and is currently at the Holy Names Academy, his compositions are published by Seconda Prattica and performed widely. Recently Wilson premiered a concerto written for him by the Ukrainian composer Oleg Boyko.  Recently Wilson will be directed Guitar ensembles in the premier of a work he commissioned from Boyko at the 2023 Northwest Guitar Festival in Bellingham, Wa.  2023, released on Bandcamp The Music of Taiwo Adegoke, Changing the canon of the classical guitar with music from Nigeria. Music for Seattle Guitar Orchestra and cello and classical guitar featuring cellist Abbie Eads.  

In 2024 Wilson has worked with Scribe Studios to release a 6 set of music videos based on Wilson’s collaboration with Ukrainian composer in exile Oleg Boyko. Wilson worked with the Seattle Classic Guitar Society to commission a work called Secret Life of Trees for the Seattle Guitar Orchestra.  Further performances were o KING FM Northwest Focus Live and then the work was recorded at St James Cathedral with additional footage at Chuckanut mountain in Bellingham. 

Wilson is an in demand concerto soloist performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Westsound Bremton Symphony the Octava orchestra in 2023 and in 2024 Wilson performed the other famous concerto by Rodrigo, the Fantasia para Gentilehombre with the Orquestra Northwest and the Octava orchestra. In April 2025 Wilson will perform the Heitor Villa Lobos concerto with the Port Townsend Symphony under the direction of Tigran Arakelyan.

PROGRAM

Heitor Villa-Lobos, Guitar Concerto with Mark Hilliard Wilson
John Williams arr. Jerry Brubaker, Harry Potter and the Goblin of Fire
John Willaims arr. Sean O’Loughlin, Star Wars, The Force Awakens
John Williams and John Ottman arr. Victor Lopez, Superman Returns
John Williams arr. Custer, Jurassic Park

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PTSO Chamber Music Series – Sat., April 26, 2025 at 2 pm; Grace Lutheran Church in Port Townsend

Poster and photo by Pamela Roberts.

PTSO Chamber Music Series features international mix of composers

The Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra (PTSO) Chamber Music Series will be hosted at Grace Lutheran Church in Port Townsend (1120 Walker St.) on Saturday, April 26 at 2 pm.

This free concert series features local soloists, chamber musicians and PTSO members. Donations are gratefully accepted at the door. No tickets or reservations are required. There will be a short reception after the concert.

Sung-Ling Hsu, recently appointed co-artistic director, shared, “This concert features an exciting international mix of composers from France, the United States, Switzerland, Russia, Argentina, and Austria. As an artistic director it’s been fun scouting around for new works. Of course, once we identify the pieces we must recruit musicians. We are fortunate to have eight experienced musicians performing in this concert, including a full quartet of strings, in addition to piano, flute and clarinet.”

Featured artists for this program are Marina Rosenquist, violin; Sara Mary Hall, violin; Tamara Rotz, violin and flute; Sung-Ling Hsu, viola and piano; Pamela Roberts, cello; Joel Wallgren, clarinet; Michael Carroll, piano;  and Helen Lauritzen, piano.

“These programs last about one hour with no intermission, a concert model that has proven to be quite popular with our local audience members,” stated Michael Carroll, co-artistic director.

PROGRAM

~  Sonata for Cello and Piano in A major, FWV 8 – Allegretto poco mosso by Cesar Franck.

~  Quartet No. 2 in D major for Strings,  Allegro moderato by Alexander Borodin.

~  La Calle 92 Duet for Viola and Cello by Astor Piazzolla.

~  Trio in D Major, Hob. XV:16 for Flute, Cello and Piano by Joseph Haydn.

~  String Trio In D minor – Allegretto by Volkmar Andreae.

~  Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano by Claude Debussy.

~ Piano Trio in B flat Major Op. 65 – Tranquillo by Arthur Foote.

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

Michael Carroll, piano, studied with Robert Van Meter at Clarion State College in Pennsylvania. An experienced soloist, as well as choral and vocal accompanist, he was the staff pianist and program annotator for Seattle’s Thalia Symphony Orchestra for ten years. Michael lives in Port Ludlow and is pianist with the PTSO.

Sung-Ling Hsu, piano and viola, immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan. At university she majored in composition and after graduating worked in scoring and sound effects design. She lives in Quilcene and is highly devoted to chamber music. She is pianist at Port Ludlow Community Church and PTSO’s principal violist. 

Pamela Roberts, cello, graduated from the UW, studying with Eva Heinitz and Toby Saks. She was faculty cellist at the University of Puget Sound and a fellowship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival. A retired educational administrator, she lives in Quilcene and is the PTSO’s principal cellist.

MUSICIANS

Marina Rosenquist, violin, has primarily called the Olympic Peninsula home. A graduate of Lawrence University, she puts her education to use in her private studio, rehearsals, and occasional performances. Marina enjoys the gifts of her simple life in being a mum and wife.

Sara Mary Hall, violin, is a scientist by training with over 25 years of gene therapy experience as co-founder/CEO of biotech companies. She specializes in disorders of the eye. She has led multiple initiatives for women and girls in STEAM (STEM plus the Arts) and is PTSO’s principal of the second violin section.

Helen Lauritzen, piano, founded the Seattle Peace Chorus, which she directed for 14 years. In Port Townsend Helen accompanies singers and instrumentalists, sings in RainShadow Chorale and directs the local Threshold Choir.

Dr. Tamara Rotz, violin and flute, has a Master of Music Performance degree specializing in historical performance on flute, violin and viola. With a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies, she works at Peninsula College as the eLearning Administrator. She is a coach for the Kitsap Philharmonic Youth Symphony and a PTSO member.

Joel Wallgren, clarinet, is a graduate of Northwestern University where he studied with Russell Dagon, Steven Cohen, and J. Lawrie Bloom. He is Executive Director of the Poulsbo Community Orchestra where he works to keep classical music alive in our community.

For more information go to https://ptsymphony.org/chamber-music-series/.

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CONCERT! February 23, 2025!

Anabel Moore was born and raised in Port Townsend. She started violin at age 6, studying with Barbara Henry, Pat Yearian and Matthew Daline. In 2024 she graduated from the Peninsula College Running Start program with her high school diploma and Associates degree. Pursuing her goal of becoming a professional musician, Anabel currently studies music education and violin performance under Dr. Maria Sampen at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. There she plays with the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra and in a chamber music quintet. Anabel loves to perform and enjoys opportunities to share music with others. Performing with the Port Townsend Symphony is a dream come true. She is excited for future musical adventures!

Our symphony concerts are held Sunday afternoons at 2 PM at Chimacum School Auditorium (91 W Valley Rd, Chimacum). There are open dress rehearsals the Friday evening at 7 pm before each Sunday concert – also at Chimacum School Auditorium.

PTSO concerts are free to attend (but not free to produce). Donations are always gratefully accepted at the door, through the mail or with PayPal.

Program

Aaron Copland, El Salon Mexico 
W. A. Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 3 (1st movement) with Anabel Moore (winner of the PTSO Young Artist Competition 2024)
Daniel Gall, Oatmeal Counterpoint* Premiere
Max Bruch, Swedish Dances

FEATURING: Off-the-grid on a small farm in the Pacific Northwest, composer and author, Daniel Gall, tends a garden of creative projects–with a new crop out each season.

Working remotely from his woodsy hermitage, over the years Daniel has collaborated with a host of musicians, ensembles, filmmakers, and choreographers/dance companies, including the Symbiosis Chamber Orchestra, the Glendale Philharmonic, the Definiens Project, the Vientos Trio, Mignolo Dance, Forza Dance, and many others. During the pandemic, he produced PROJECT SCREENDANCE, a social media series in which he collaborated with a different set of performers on a new dance film short each month, resulting in 23 films before calling it quits in Summer of 2022. Before he fled the grid nearly a decade ago, Daniel studied music at UCLA, and was the founder of the Los Angeles based new music organization and concert series, Synchromy.

In addition to his work as a composer, Daniel is a novelist who writes often-satirical and dystopian fantasies based on his experiences off the grid. He strives to connect his musical and literary works through fantastic themes and imaginative concepts, usually involving film or dance. For more about Daniel Gall and his work: danielgallcreativeworks.com

Brief Program Note About “Oatmeal Counterpoint”

1. Good Morning! (time to get up)
2. Oats for Breakfast
3. Exotic Fruit
4. Coffee Time
5. A Moment to Drift and Dream
6. Time to Face the Day

Nutritious, low-fat, high in fiber… Written over a bowl of oatmeal, Oatmeal Counterpoint is a suite of six dances for orchestra that act as a soundtrack to my morning routine. From oats to coffee, and including even a moment to dream, it’s a musical homage to the early hours, that fleeting space in our lives kept just for ourselves, before it’s time to let others in and face the day.

(Photo of Anabel Moore, violinist, is by Peninsula Daily News.)

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CONCERT: December 8, 2024!

FEATURING Emmy Ulmer, who is delighted to perform the Werner Thaerichen Timpani Concerto for the Port Townsend community! She fell in love with this beautiful town as a teenager with the Marrowstone Music Festival at Fort Worden. A graduate of the University of Washington, she earned a double degree in Bachelors of Arts and Music in Percussion Performance. A freelancer for over 30 years, Emmy has been a percussionist and timpanist with many different ensembles throughout the greater Puget Sound region. While living in Vienna, Austria, she had the opportunity to play with the Orchester der Technischen Universitaet Wien. Emmy has been the English Captions Operator with Seattle Opera for over 20 years, a complex and rewarding job that fulfills another music side for her. The role she is most proud of is mom to her wonderful daughter, Anneliese. This is for her!

PROGRAM

Werner Thärichen, Timpani concerto with Emmy Ulmer
Georges Bizet, L’arlesienne Suites 1 and 2

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PTSO Young Artists Competition 2024

Winners of the PTSO Young Artists Competition 2024

5th Annual Port Townsend Young Artist Competition
April 20, 2024
Grace Lutheran Church, 1120 Walker St, Port Townsend

YAC Coordinator: Mike McLeron

SENIOR
1 Anabel Moore – Praeludium and Allegro-Fritz Kreisler
2 Amidah Soong – Sonata in D major Op. 1 #13, Affettuoso and Allegro-Handel
3 Bella Ferland – Sonatina 1st Mvt-Arthur Olaf Anderson

JUNIOR
1 Juniper Fleischer – Nocturne op. 55 No. 1-Chopin
2 Annaleigh Harrison – Fur Elise – Beethoven
3 Bodhi Fleischer/Kai Anderson – Concerto for Two Violins Dmin BWV 1043-JS Bach

CONDUCTOR AWARD
Nola Bertucci – 4 Morceaux, Op. 82: No. 1. Les Nymphes: Allegro leggiero – M. Moszkowski

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CONCERT! Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 2 pm!

Our symphony concerts are held Sunday afternoons at Chimacum School Auditorium (91 W Valley Rd, Chimacum). There are OPEN DRESS REHEARSALS at 7 pm the Friday evening before each Sunday concert – also at Chimacum School Auditorium.

PTSO concerts are free to attend (but not free to produce). Donations are always gratefully accepted at the door. Tigran Arakelyan, Conductor and Artistic Director.

THIS CONCERT FEATURES Seattle-based percussionist/bandoneonist/composer BEN THOMAS. Ben started playing bandoneon in 2006, traveling to Argentina and working with tango musicians from across the world. He tours regularly with the Atlas Tango Project and can be heard on their most recent album, “Estaciones y Sueños”. He was a guest artist with the Eugene Opera in 2018 as the bandoneon soloist for Piazzolla’s “Maria de Buenos Aires”. Thomas has released five albums of original music on Origin Records, spanning jazz, chamber music, and tango. His music explores both traditional tango and how it continues to grow as it encounters new times and new influences. Following the lead of some of the pioneers of the current scene in Buenos Aires, such as Diego Schissi and Exequiel Mantega, Thomas builds pieces combining rhythmic intensity with lush harmonies, whimsy, and an emphasis on storytelling. He studied mathematics and music at Swarthmore College before going to the University of Michigan for a Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation and the University of Washington for a DMA in Percussion Performance. Thomas has taught music theory, composition, and performance at Highline College since 2001.

PROGRAM

Antonín Dvorak, Carnival Overture

Florence Price, Dance in the Canebrakes

New piece for bandoneon and orchestra* Premiere with Ben Thomas (soloist and composer)

Jennifer Higdon, Blue Cathedral

Alexander Borodin, In the Steppes of Central Asia

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